Two bailed over attack on pensioner

Two people arrested in connection with an attack on a 93-year-old pensioner who was severely beaten in her own home have been released on bail.

Emma Winnall is believed to have been assaulted in her own bed at her home in Moseley, Birmingham, between 9pm on April 30 and 9am the following morning, when she was found by her carer.

A 56-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man were arrested at their home in the Hall Green area of Birmingham by officers from West Midlands Police just before 6.30am on Thursday.

They were questioned in custody on suspicion of assault before being released on bail until a date in July. The force said the dawn arrests were made after routine police inquiries and were not a result of information from the public.

A spokesman said Mrs Winnall, who suffered horrific injuries including a fractured skull and a partially severed finger, as well as a broken arm and wrist, remains in a stable condition in hospital.

Meanwhile, a police officer who sent a "wholly inappropriate" message on Twitter after helping to arrest two suspects in the assault inquiry has been spoken to about his conduct.

Pc Hanif Sanghar, of West Midlands Police, reportedly used Twitter to inform his 2,700 followers that officers had "arrested the offenders" involved in the attack on the 93-year-old.

In a statement apologising for any "confusion or distress" the tweet may have caused, Pc Sanghar's force stressed that those arrested were innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Chief Inspector Sally Seeley said in a statement: "The man and woman arrested in connection with the attack on Emma Winnall are suspects.

"Like most people, the officer who tweeted about his role in the double arrest was shocked by the violent nature of the attack on Mrs Winnall and was keen to update people with the latest development in the case. It is clear that in doing this, he used terminology which was wholly inappropriate. The officer has been advised and the tweets removed."